Artificial foot.



N. G. ENsTR'dM.

ARTIFICIAL FOOT.

APPLICATION IILBD 11120.6, 1913. RENEWED OUT. 22, 1914.

1,119,258, Patented Dec.1,1914.

I y /////A Illl' NORRIS IFl': us no, know I nun H'AHIIHLM'N. D C

which it is to be fitted and placed. This UNI El STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NILS GUSTAF ENSTRijlVI, OF STOCKHOLIVI, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF TWO-THIBDS TO JOHN PHILIP DAHLLSF AND ONE-THIRD TOKARL J OHAN HELLSTROM, BOTH OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ARTIFICIAL FOOT.

Application filed December 6, 1913, Serial No. 805,051.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NILs Gusrar EN- srrRoM, a citizen of Sweden, andresident of the city of Stockholm, in the county of Stockholm, Sweden,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Feet, ofwhich the followingis a specification.

The present invention has reference to the manufacture of artificiallimbs and contemplates the production of an improved appliancepertaining to this art which shall be particularly well adapted to takethe place of an amputated foot, or else can be used as an extension toan artificial leg, embodying in either case the features necessary toafford the requisite comfort to the wearer and retain the shapeliness ofhis (or her) footgear.

The invention consists in certain structural details, combinations andarrangements of parts, whereby some material advantages over analogousdevices of anterior date are gained, and the appliance is rendered lesscomplicated or cumbersome, less expensive to make, more convenient touse, and practically noiseless in action, all as will hereinafterclearly appear.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, referencewill now be made to the drawing hereto annexed where- 1n Figure 1 isasectional plan of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken on theline 11 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, onthe line 2+2'of Fig. 1. a

In the form illustrated herein, the in vention comprises the followingnamed essential elements, to wit; a part 11, constituting the heel ofthe artificial foot; a second larger part 12, reversely curved therefromand forming the forward pedal portion; a hinge connection 13, betweenthe sald two parts; and an elastic device 14:, attached to thisconnection and controlling the movements of the parts with relation toeach other.

The part 11, as shown, consists of a U- shaped piece, placedhorizontally edgewlse, with its curve directed rearward, and is ofsuitable height to afford the required lateral support to the counter ofthe shoe withln Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Renewed October 22, 1914. Serial No. 867,961.

verse member will lie horizontally under and across the part 11.,preferably at the central part thereof, with the opposite side membersof the stirrup extending upwardly 1n the same plane. The cross memberofthe stirrup enters notches 17 formed in the lower edges of the part 11,which notches are of sufficient height and length to allow play of themember therein. Centrally above these notches and the transverse memberof the stirrup, the vertical members of the latter are joined to theopposite side members of the part 11 by loosely fitted riv ets 18,performing the function of pivot pins between the said part and stirrup.

Normally, that is, in an idle position, the

transverse member of the stirrup and the lower edge of the part 11 willlie level with the ground, but the arrangement is such that the part ismovably connected to the stirrup by therivets 18, and the former obtainsa slight rocking movement thereon with relation to the latter, due tothe clear ance afforded by the notches 17. Therefore, the heel of theartificial foot is movable per 86, to wit, independently of the legconnection, as also of the other parts, and since it receives the firstimpact as the foot usually touches the ground the movement here referredto simulates the yielding action of the natural heel which is conduciveto soft,

and light treading.

Like the part 11, hereinbefore described, the part 12 is U-shaped, orsubstantially so, and similarly placed, though it is of less height, ofgreater length, and reversed in,

instrumentality of a bridge or arched piece 19, rigidly secured at itsedges to the sides parts 11 and 12 overlap one another and are united bythe before-named hingeconnection 13, which may consist of a spindle orhinge pin passed transversely through registering holes in the meetingends of the said parts and upset or formed with retaining heads on theOutside, as at 21. This spindle or hinge-pin forms a fulcrum to the twoparts.- United in this manner, the parts 11 and 12 are capable ofinterrelative movement in adjacent vertical planes. Their movementhowever, is limited by rivets 22, secured to the opposite ends of thepart 12 and passed through vertical slots 23, provided in thecorresponding ends of the bow 11, immediately in rear of the hingeconnection. The slots ars indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

By preference, the aforesaid elastic device is composed of a pluralityof springs, collectively designated by the numeral 14. These springs arecoiled intermediately of their lengths around the spindle 13, aboutwhich they may have each a couple of convolutions as shown. They areplaced pref- I erably at equal distances apart on the spin dle, betweenthe opposite sides of the parts 11 and 12, and their ends are led fromthe underside ofthe spindle oppositely toward the curves of the parts,forward and rearward respectively. Forwardly, the ends of the several.springs pass loosely through apertures 24, provided in a cross-brace 25,secured at its ends to the inner. sides of the part 12. At the rear, theextremities of the springs are first run outwardly and thence inwardlythrough similar holes 26, 27, lo-

cated above one another in the curve of the bow '11, these extremitiesof the springs being bent for the purpose, as at 28, Fig. 2. The springs1 1 are thus anchored to the part 11, and slidably connected with thecross brace of the part 12. Arranged in this manner, the springs arecaused to bear from opposite sides of thespindle 13, upon both parts 11and 12, which they press downward to normal inactive positions. When,however, a movement is imparted to either part, the springs control thesame in such a Way as to insure. at all times an elasticflexur andrebound of parts, afiording a certain measure of comfort in use andpractically noiseless in operation. An outer covering 29, of leather orother suitable material, may be employed, if desired, to incase thisimproved artificial foot and protect the several parts thereof from dustor otherwise shield them against outside interference. 1

It is understood that various modifications can be efiected in theconstruction of the above described appliance, especially in the meansprovided for limiting the movements of the parts 11 and 12 and in thearrangement' o'f the springs, and consequently the right is reserved tomake alterations therein, as well as all changes that come within thescope of the invention or embody its underlying principle.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patentand claim. 1s: V

1. An artificial foot comprising oppositely curved parts hingedlyconnected, one with the other, said parts constituting the heel and soleof the foot respectively.

2. An artificial foot comprising "oppositely curved parts respectivelyrepresenting the heel and forward part of the foot, a hinge connectionbetween said parts, and an elastic device bearing upon said heel andsaid forward part from opposite sides of said connection.

3. An artificialfoot comprising a heel, a i

forward. portion loosely connected therewith, a hanger suspending saidheel from the leg, and a connection between said hanger and the heelpermitting movement of the latter independently of either the hanger Orthe forward portion.

et An artificial foot comprising a part constituting the heel, astirruphsecured to the leg and having its transverse membermovablyfitted across said part, a pivotal connection between theopposite sides ofthe part and the sides of said stirrup, and a forwardfoot portion hingedly connected with the ends of the part in advance ofsaid pivotal connection.

5. vAn artificial foot comprising a part forming the heel, an oppositelycurved part constituting the sole and forward extremity of the. foot,said parts overlapping at the ends, a spindle passing loosely throughsaid overlapped ends, and one or more springs coiled around saidspindle, the spring or springs being anchored at one end to-one part andslidably connected attheother end with the otherpart) 6. An artificialfoot comprisinghingedly connected parts curved outwardly in oppositedirections, said parts respectively constituting the heel and sole, aspindle joining the ends of said parts loosely together, a braceextending transversely of the forward, part, and one or more springscoiled about said spindle, the spring or springs being anchored at oneend to the rear part and having a sliding engagement at the other endwith said brace 7. An artificial foot comprising parts curved inopposite directions and having their end lapped over one another, aspindle hingedlyconnecting the overlapped ends of said parts, and meansfor limiting the movements of the parts relatively to each other.

8. An artificial foot comprising reversely curved parts hingedlyconnected one With the other, an elastic device bearing upon said partsonopposite sides from the hinge thereof, and a pin-and-slot connectionbetween the ends of the parts limitingtheir,

movements about said hinge.

9. An artificial foot comprising a member having its lower edge ofsubstantially bowed curvature, a longer fore-member of similar curvaturehin ed thereto, an attachment for the leg to WhlCh one member is pivotedindependently of the other, and resilient 1..

means acting upon both members tending to maintain them level.

Signed at the city of Stockholm, in the county of Stockholm, Sweden,this fourth day of November, A. D. 1913.

NILS GUSTAF ENSTROM.

Witnesses:

AUGUST Jormnssoiv, GUSTAV PRINCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

